Spring



(No Model.)

- J. HARRINGTON.

SPRING.

No. 360,588. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOHN HARRINGTON, OF COVENTRY, COUNTY OF VAIHVIOK, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE POPE MANUFACTUR- TNG COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360.588, dated April 5, 1887.

Application filed May 18,1896. Serial No. 202,543. (No model.) Patented in England July 28, 1855, No. 9,035; in France December I0, 1885, No.172,83'2, and in Belgium December 10, 188.3,No. 71,167.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HARRINGTON, of Coventry, county of WVarwick, England, have invented an Improvement in Springs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object theproduction of a spring of comparatively low cost, yet possessing great elasticity and durability, the spring being so constructed asto yield not only vertically, but also laterally to some ex tent.

My improved spring is composed of a rod of steel or other spring metal bent between its ends to form two or more coils, the free ends of the rod beyond the said coils being returned past the center of the rod, and being pivoted at points beyond the said coils, one or both the said free ends having a right-angled projection to enter or be held loosely by a horizontally-located box or hearing, the box or bearing or the projection being preferably adjustable, as will be described, the projection and co-operating box or bearing permitting the coiled parts of the spring,when the spring is in use, to descend below the normal level of the arms between the coils and the free ends of the springs without liability of setting'a bend in or permanently bending any part of the said spring.

Figure l, in side elevation, represents a spring embodying my invention; Fig. 1", a partial section in the line x 00, Fig. 1; Fig. l", a detail of the end of the arm a; Fig. 2, atop or plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional detail of the rightangled projection at the end of the arm a of the spring, it showing the said projection as made separate from the spring; Fig. 4., a side elevation of a modification ofmy invention; Fig. 5, a top or plan View of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, yet another modification; Fig. 7, a plan View thereof; and Fig. 8, a detail showing a modification of the right-hand end of the arm a of the spring, Fig. 1, and its projection to enter the box or hearing to be described.

My improved spring is composed of a steel rod bent to form coils a a, leaving a supporting portion, 6, between them, on which may rest a seat, I), of any usual construction, the free ends of the arms a a of the said spring turned backward past the center line, 3 y, of the said spring and beyond the opposite coil, being supported at a point beyond the said coil, and substantially in the line of the bottom or lower edge of the said coil.

The free end of the arm a of the spring (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is bent at right angles to the said arm, forming a projection, 2, which enters a laterallyplace d recess ina box or bearing, 0', the foot of which is secured by screws 0 upon a suitable support, 0*.

The springs herein shown will ordinarily be used in pairs, and to keep the projections 2 of the arms a in position,so that they cannot be accidental-1y detached from the box or bearing in which they enter, I have provided the box or bearing 0* with an eared cap, 0, which is attached to the box or bearing by a suitable screw, 0", the ears acting against the outer portion of the arms a, as shown in Fig.1.

The end of the arm a of the rod composing the spring, instead of being bent at right angles, as described of the arm a, is shown as extended into a hole, 5, in a bolt-like piece, (I, which constitutes in practicea right-angled projection for the said arm a, the separable rightangled projections so formed being in function and operation a mechanical equivalent for the right-angled projection. This portion (1 enters loosely a passage formed in a box or bearing, (1, herein shown as forming part of or attached to the support 0 bya bolt, d". This support 0* may be variously m0difled in shape, and may be a part of any thing or article with which the spring and its boxes or bearings are to be used. The box or bearing (1 is shown as attached to the support 0' by a bolt, (1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, it will be seen by dottedlines that when sufiicient weight is applied to the upper part of the spring, as upon the seat or connection 11, the coiled parts a a of the springs are free to and do descend until the coils a a thereof pass below the normal level of the arms a a, or below the points of suspension of the said springs, without any portion of the said coils or arms interfering with any other portion thereof.

If the ends of the arms a a' of the spring were rigidly secured to a support, then the elasticity of the spring would be nearly or almost neutralized; but by providing the ends of the, said arms a a with right-angled projections, whether integral therewith or separable therefrom, as described, and extending said projecting portions into boxes or bearings, the springs are free to rock at their points of sus pension as the spring descends or moves vertically. The pivoting, as it were, of the free 15. ends of the spring permits the body of the spring to rise and fall to a greater extent than would be otherwise possible.

A spring of the kind shown and described, besides possessing great elasticity, is supported in such manner as to quite, if not entirely, do away with any shocks by reason of the moving spring coming in contact with afixed part of the apparatus wit-h which the spring is cur ployed.

The laterally-projecting portion (I, referred to and made separable from the spring, is bored through from end to end, and also diametrically in two places, the diametrical holes being free to receive the free ends of the springs, the latter being secured in place by means of set-screws e, which latter impinge upon the rods composing the spring; or, if desired, instead of using set-screws, the ends of the rods passed through the holes 5 may be upset, and if this plan is pursued I prefer to bend the ends of the rods before they are passed through the holes 5, as shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a spring somewhat shorter than in Fig. 1, the spring therein shown being especially adapted for velocipede seats or saddles, the support 0 in said figure having alooped shank or eye, a, and a setscrew to fix the support in position in usual manner.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the bearing (1 has a yoked part, m, to fit the backbone of a bicycle.

In Figs. at to 7, inclusive, I have shown the ends of the arms a as bent to form eyes to receive a bolt, m Vith the spring in Figs. 6

and 7 the bolt (not therein shown) will be extended through a projection forming part of the bicycle.

In the drawings I have shown the springs duplicated, or two springs placed side by side, as I shall use them in practice.

With a spring of the kind herein shown, especially in Figs. 1 and 2, when the spring is of considerable length it is possible for the seat I) to be rocked, one end of the spring or one coil rising while the other coil descends, or vice versa.

I am aware that steel rods have been bent into various forms for the manufacture of springs for various purposes; but prior to'my invention I am not aware that the points of suspension of the springs located outside the coils of the springs have ever been supported so as to rock in horizontally-located boxes or bearings, thereby permitting the coils a a, lo cated back from the ends of the arms a a of the said springs normally nearly horizontal, to descend freely under pressure to a point below the points of suspension of the said arms, as herein described and illustrated.

I do not herein claim any of the forms of springs represented in my English Patent No. 16,475 of 1884.

I claim 1. A spring composed of a rod bent to form coils and leave arms a (0 extended from each of the said coils in opposite directions past the other coil, and boxes, bearings, or supports for the ends of the said arms, one end of one of the said arms having a right-angled projection to enter and turn in or on one of the said boxes or bearings sustained upon a support, whereby the lower portion of the coiled parts of the rod constituting the spring are free to descend below the normal level of the arms at a, the said arms between the said coils and the points of suspension also descending, and the said projection also turning in the said boxes or bearings, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a spring composed of a steel rod'bent to form two coils and leave arms a a" extended from each of the said coils in opposite directions, each arm passing beyond the opposite coil, combined with supports for the ends of the said arms, the ends of the arms being pivoted upon or with relation to the said supports, whereby the central part of the spring and its coils are free to descend below the arms a a without bending or setting the said arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HARRINGTON. lVit-nesses:

GEO. WV. GREGORY, O. M. CONE. 

